Ore-separating machine.



No. 654,662. Patented luly 3|, |900.

- J. F. MITCHELL,

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'Application filed Oct. 80, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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Nrrnin STATES JOHNF. MITCHELL, OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

ORE-SEPARATLNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATIN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 654,662, dated .Tu1y31r,1900.

Appiianon nea cette 3o, i399.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at 1130 Western avenue,city of Topeka, in the county of Shawneeand Stateof Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gre-Separating Machines, of which the following is a specification. A f

My invention relates to apparatus for separating precious metals andother ores from earth, pulverized rock, sand, ctc., whereby a completeseparation takes place, with an 'economical use of water. I attain theseobjects by the mechanism illustrated in the acceui-v panying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the entire machine; Fig. 2,a top view of fthe machine on the line gh, with part of itbroken away;Fig. 3, a vertical section of that portion of the machine above the lineg h, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a fragment of the side 1 of thetank, showing one of the gates G, which are operated as vertically-adjustable closures for discharge-openings 2.

Similar numerals and letters referto similar parts throughout theseveral views.

The sides 1 ofthe tank are provided with discharge-openings 2,which areopen when the operation begins, but are gradually closed by gates G,which operate as vertically-ad-- justable closures by being pushedupward as the tank fills with ore.

The central cylinder 4, crowning the vertex of the tanks bottom 3, isprovided with a cone-shaped top 5, which is surrounded on its outer edgewith spreaders 7 or diamondshaped cleats, the purpose of which is toinsure the equal distribution ofthe mingled water, ore, rock, and earthto all parts of the tank. The ore, rock, and earth after being crushedand screened in the usual manner, being mixed with water enough to carrythem, are introduced into the tank through lthe feed-pipe a, and aredischarged on the vertex 6 of the cone-shapedtop 5 of the centralcylinder 4, flowing thence downward over its sides to the bottom 3 ofthe tank. The ore being heavier than the rock and earth settles aroundand near the base of the cylinder 4 in the stronger current, while therock and earth being lighter than the ore continue to respond to theforce of the current, which semi No. 735,222. (Numan.)

deposited, a -large proportion of the rock and earth being carried outof the tank through the discharge-openings-2. The water as it radiatesfromthe central cy1inder4 and flows outward over the inclined bottom 3of the tank gradually diminishes in depth and force and if undisturbedwill break up into small streams or rivulets before reaching the sides lof the tank, the result being the cutting of channels inthe surface ofthe ore-bed,

which is formed on and parallel to the bottom 3 of the tank, andcarrying the ore out Vthrough the discharge-openings 2 in the sides- 1of the tank. To prevent the water from breaking upinto rivulets andcarrying the ore out of the tank through the dischargeopenings 2, and topreserve the sheet-like formation of the water for the greatest possibledistance from the cylinder 4, fans 12., attached to., and near the outerextremity of arms 11, (radiating from the elongated cogged hub 4l0 andrevolving on the axle 9, supported by braces 8, attached to andrestingon the top 5 of the cylinder 4,) sweep near and parallel to thebottom 3 of the tank with a rotary motion.

VThe air being compressed in front of the rotating fans 12 escapesunderneath their lower edges, exerting an influence on the surface ofthe water which dedects it, and by thus impeding its progress causes itto preserve its sheet-like formation as it flows outward from thecentral cylinder 4.

The elongated cogged hub 10 is connected at its upper` end by a swivel13 to a screw 14, passing through an overhead timber 15, having at itsupper end a pulley-wheel 16, which is connected by an endless chain 17or belt witha similar wheel 18, outside the circumference of the tank,having a screw 19 attached to its under side which passes downwardthrough the timber 15 andterminates at `its lower extremity in a crank20 gr handle that when turned raises orlowers the fans 12, as required,preventing them from coming in contact with the ore and water in thetank. The elongated cogs on the hub l0 permit it to be raised or loweredwithout stopping its ICO revolving'y motion, and it is connected with acog-wheel b, suspended at the lower end ol a perpendicular shaft c,extending upward through and supported by the overhead timber 15, andterminating at its upper end in a cog connection d with the horizontalshaft' The size of the machine will be governed by the volume ofmaterial it is desired to treat.

The fans, which are one of the most important features of the structure,can be made of any suitable material, such as light wood or sheet metal,andthe velocity with which they are rotated and their distance above thesurface of the water will be governed by the force ofthe current to bedeflected.

Having thus fully-described' myinvention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. An ore-separating machine comprising acircular tank with inclined bottom 3, a central cylinder 4, having acone-shaped top 5 an axle 9 resting on braces 8 attached to it, afeed-pipe a, an elongated cogged hub 10, turning on the axle 9, andhaving arms 11 attached to and radiating from near its base, fans 12attached near the outer extremity of the arms 1l, a screw 14. attachedto the top of the hub 1 by a swivel connection 13,'a pulley-wheel 16attached to the upper end of the screw 14, connected by an endlesschai-n 17 or belt, to a pulley-wheel 18 supported by an upright screw19, terminating, at its lower end, in the handle 20, or crank,substantially as shown, and for the purposes specified.

' 2. An` ore-separating machine comprising a circular tank with verticaldischarge-openings 2 in the sides 1, gates G which operate as verticallyJadjustable closures' for discharge-openings 2, an inclined bottom 3 totank, 'a central cylinder 4, having a conesliaped top 5, an axle 9resting on braces 8 attached to it, a feed -pipe'a, an elongated, coggedhub 10 turning on the axle 9, and having arms 11 attached to andradiating from near its base, fans 12 attached to the arms 11 near theirouter extremities, a screw 14; attached to thetop of the hub lO by aswivel connection 18, a pulley-wheel 16 attached to the upper end of thescrew 14, connected by an endless chain 17 or belt, to a pulley-wheel18, supported by an upright screw 19, terminating, at its lower end, inthe handle 2O or crank, a cog-wheel b connected with the hub 10 andattached to the lower end of the perpendicular shaft c which has a cogconnection d with a horizontal shaft f supplying the power, allsubstantially as set forth.

J Ol-IN F. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

WM. W. BOLLARD, R. S. VAN SANT.

